Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Nouri and temporary measures

In Iraq, where the political crisis continues, Nouri al-Maliki is rejecting calls to appear before the Parliament. Kitabat reports today that the Speaker of Parliament's office released a statement noting that the Constitution outlines this process and that Parliament is an equal partner in government. In addition, the statement notes that the Parliament is the legitimate representatives of the people and that must be recognized. Unlike the post of prime minister or the Cabinet of Ministers, the people vote in Parliament elections. (It's a bit more complicated than that in practice but we don't have time this morning. Suffice is to say, most of the MPs were not voted on as individuals.) Alsumaria notes that the statement goes ont point out that the Parliament's successfully passed "hundreds" of bills in the legislative session and that they are doing the work of the people. The statement notes that the Constitution must be respected.

Nouri's political slate State of Law came in second in the 2010 elections. That may explain the perpetual chip they have on their shoulder. Alsumaria notes they are saying Speaker of Parliament Osama al-Nujaifi made a "fatal error" by signing onto an agreement in Erbil. They're not clear on which agreement. It's a 2012 one and may mean the April 28th deal or something later. It's so very hard to tell what the half-wits of State of Law mean to say. They're also attacking Moqtada al-Sadr and stating now that his decision not to take part in questioning of Nouri (should Nouri appear before Parliament) indicates he's on their side. No, it indicates that Moqtada's acting consistent with what's he's stated for months now.

Moqtada al-Sadr, Osama al-Nujaifi, Ayad Allawi (Iraqiya head) and KRG President Massoud Barzani angered State of Law by attempting a no-confidence vote that President Jalal Talabani refused to allow to go forward. He 'created' powers for himself that he just doesn't have -- not even at an all you can eat buffet. As a result of his stunt and betrayal (we'll go into this more in the snapshot today -- he's been called out and no one's really noticed it in the press), he fled to Germany for an 'emergency procedure' (knee surgery). Now they're attempting to question Nouri before Parliament and hoping that the reaction to his answers will lead to a vote of no-confidence, stripping him of his post.

Al Rafidayn reports Ibrahim al-Jaafari has declared the Nationl Alliance will create a reform body. Talk about meaningless gesutres. A toothless body of Nouri supporters will 'oversee' Nouri? Already Alsumaria reports Iraqiya (who came in first in the 2010 elections) is calling the measure a non-starter that will not resolve the crisis.

(Washington, D.C.)
– Today, Wednesday, June 27, 2012, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, will chair a hearing to examine health and
benefits legislation pending before the Committee. At the hearing, Tracy
Keil, the spouse of a severely wounded OIF veteran will discuss her family’s
experience with VA’s fertility services. Veterans who have severe
reproductive and urinary tract injuries and spinal cord injuries (SCI) often
need highly specialized treatments and procedures like IVF to conceive.
However, under current law, IVF is expressly excluded from fertility
services that are provided by the VA to veterans or their spouses. This
is a significant barrier for veterans with SCI and genital and urinary tract
injuries and as a result they have to seek care outside of the VA. Senator
Murray’s Women
Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012, which
she introduced last week, would expand fertility treatment and care for
seriously wounded veterans, their spouses, and surrogates.

In addition,
Senator Murray will discuss her new servicemembers and veterans mental health
legislation, the Mental
Health ACCESS Act of 2012, S. 3340. Vets First will testify on
the Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012, which Senator Murray introduced
yesterday. Six other Senators are expected to appear in support of their
legislation, including Senators Ayotte, Boxer, Franken, Heller, Wyden, and
Portman. VA and stakeholder groups will provide their views on the legislation
as well. View the full agenda for tomorrow’s hearing below.

S. 3340 (Murray) Mental Health Access to Continued Care and Enhancement of
Support Services (Mental Health ACCESS) Act of 2012

S. 3336 (Inouye) A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a major medical facility project lease for a Department of
Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic at Ewa Plain, Oahu, Hawaii, and for other
purposes

S. 3324 (Scott Brown) A bill to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to nonprofit
organizations for the construction of facilities for temporary lodging in
connection with the examination, treatment, or care of a veteran under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes

S. 3316 (Toomey) A bill to
require the Secretary of Labor to carry out a pilot program on providing
veterans with access at One-Stop Centers to Internet websites to facilitate
online job searches, and for other purposes

S. 3308 (Heller) A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the furnishing of
benefits for homeless veterans who are women or who have dependents, and for
other purposes

S. 3282 (Tester) A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Veterans'
Advisory Committee on Education, and for other purposes

S. 3270 (Wyden / Burr) A bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to consider the resources of individuals applying for pension that were recently
disposed of by the individuals for less than fair market value when determining
the eligibility of such individuals for such pension, and for other
purposes

S. 3238 (Sherrod Brown) A bill to
designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic
in Mansfield, Ohio, as the David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs
Community Based Outpatient Clinic, and for other purposes

S. 3206 (Boozman) A bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authorization of
appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly assistance
allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team and
the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
provide assistance to United States Paralympics, Inc., and for other
purposes

S. 3202 (Murray)
Dignified Burial of Veterans Act of 2012

S. 3084 (Burr) VISN
Reorganization Act of 2012

S. 3052 (Sherrod Brown) A bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to provide veterans, when such veterans electronically file claims for benefits
under laws administered by the Secretary, with notice that relevant services may
be available to the veterans from veterans service organizations, and for other
purposes

S. 3049 (Begich) A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the definition of homeless
veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs

S. 2045 (Burr) A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require judges of the United
States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to reside within fifty miles of the
District of Columbia, and for other purposes

S. 1849 (Franken) Rural
Veterans Health Care Improvement Act

S. 1838 (Baucus) A bill
to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on
service dog training therapy, and for other purposes

S. 1806 (Boxer) A bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate
overpayments of tax as contributions to the homeless veterans assistance
fund

S. 1755 (Tester) A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for coverage under the
beneficiary travel program of the Department of Veterans Affairs of certain
disabled veterans for travel for certain special disabilities rehabilitation,
and for other purposes

S. 1707 (Burr)
Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act

S. 1705 (Murray) A bill
to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane,
Washington, as the "Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center”

S.1631 (Tester) A
bill to authorize the establishment in the Department of Veterans Affairs of a
center for technical assistance for non-Department health care providers who
furnish care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes

S. 1391 (Tester) A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the disability
compensation evaluation procedure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health conditions related
to military sexual trauma, and for other purposes

About Me

We do not open attachments. Stop e-mailing them. Threats and abusive e-mail are not covered by any privacy rule. This isn't to the reporters at a certain paper (keep 'em coming, they are funny). This is for the likes of failed comics who think they can threaten via e-mails and then whine, "E-mails are supposed to be private." E-mail threats will be turned over to the FBI and they will be noted here with the names and anything I feel like quoting.
This also applies to anyone writing to complain about a friend of mine. That's not why the public account exists.